Stretching diamond for next-generation microelectronics

Diamond is the hardest material in nature. It also has great potential as an excellent electronic material. A research team has demonstrated for the first time the large, uniform tensile elastic straining of microfabricated diamond arrays through the nanomechanical approach. Their findings have shown the potential of strained diamonds as prime candidates for advanced functional devices in microelectronics, photonics, and quantum information technologies.

Shapeshifting crystals: Varying stability in different forms of gallium selenide monolayers

Researchers investigate the structure and properties of a recently identified polymorph of gallium selenide crystal layer.

Chemists synthesize 'flat' silicon compounds

Chemists have synthesized extremely unusual compounds. Their central building block is a silicon atom. Different from usual, however, is the arrangement of the four bonding partners of the atom, which are not in the form of a tetrahedron around it, but flat like a trapezoid. This arrangement is usually energetically extremely unfavorable, yet the molecules are very stable.

'Soft' nanoparticles give plasmons new potential

Scientists couple gold nanoparticles with soft polymers that pull energy from the gold's plasmonic response to light. That energy can then be used to catalyze chemical reactions.

High-five or thumbs-up? New device detects which hand gesture you want to make

A new device developed by engineers can recognize hand gestures based on electrical signals detected in the forearm. The system, which couples wearable biosensors with artificial intelligence (AI), could one day be used to control prosthetics or to interact with almost any type of electronic device.

Flexible and powerful electronics

Researchers have developed a method for optimizing the electrical properties of carbon-based conductors by turning them into an ionic gel. This work may open the way for cheap, highly efficient sensors that can be printed on flexible surfaces.

New topological properties found in 'old' material of Cobalt disulfide

Researchers have discovered the presence of Weyl nodes in bulk CoS2 that allow them to make predictions about its surface properties. The material hosts Weyl-fermions and Fermi-arc surface states within its band structure, which may enable it to serve as a platform for exotic phenomena.

New class of cobalt-free cathodes could enhance energy density of next-gen lithium-ion batteries

Researchers have developed a new family of cathodes with the potential to replace the costly cobalt-based cathodes typically found in today's lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles and consumer electronics.

New discovery brings analogue spintronic devices closer

The observation of nonlinearity in electron spin-related processes in graphene makes it easier to transport, manipulate and detect spins, as well as spin-to-charge conversion. It also allows analogue operations such as amplitude modulation and spin amplification. This brings spintronics to the point where regular electronics was after the introduction of the first transistors.

Developing smarter, faster machine intelligence with light

Researchers have developed an optical convolutional neural network accelerator capable of processing large amounts of information, on the order of petabytes, per second.

A new method for the functionalization of graphene

A research team has demonstrated a novel process to modify the structure and properties of graphene, a one atom thick carbon.

Possibilities of new one-atom-thick materials

New 2D materials have the potential to transform technologies, but they're expensive and difficult to synthesize. Researchers used computer modeling to predict the properties of 2D materials that haven't yet been made in real life. These highly-accurate predictions show the possibility of materials whose properties could be 'tuned' to make them more efficient than existing materials in particular applications. A separate paper demonstrated a way to integrate these materials into real electronic devices.

Mxene-coated fabric could block harmful radiiation, electromagnetic waves

Researchers have reported that fabric coated with a conductive, two-dimensional material called MXene, is highly effective at blocking electromagnetic waves and potentially harmful radiation. The discovery is a key development for efforts to weave technological capabilities into clothing and accessories.

Atom-thin transistor uses half the voltage of common semiconductors, boosts current density

Researchers report a new, two-dimensional transistor made of graphene and molybdenum disulfide that needs less voltage and can handle more current than today's semiconductors.

New blended solar cells yield high power conversion efficiencies

Researchers have blended together various polymer and molecular semiconductors as photo-absorbers to create a solar cell with increased power efficiencies and electricity generation.

Stretchable micro-supercapacitors to self-power wearable devices

A stretchable system that can harvest energy from human breathing and motion for use in wearable health-monitoring devices may be possible, according to an international team of researchers.

The world's smallest high-performance magnetic tunnel junction

A research group has developed the world's smallest (2.3 nm) high-performance magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). This work is expected to accelerate the advancement of ultrahigh-density, low-power, high-performance non-volatile memory for a variety of applications, such as IoT, AI, and automobiles.

Rise of the underdog: A neglected mechanism in antiferromagnets may be key to spintronics

Scientists discover a mechanism in antiferromagnets that could be useful for spintronic devices. They theoretically and experimentally demonstrate that one of the magnetization torques arising from optically driven excitations has a much stronger influence on spin orientation than previously given credit for. These findings could provide a new and highly efficient mechanism for manipulating spin.

Harnessing quantum properties to create single-molecule devices

Researchers report that they have discovered a new chemical design principle for exploiting destructive quantum interference. They used their approach to create a six-nanometer single-molecule switch where the on-state current is more than 10,000 times greater than the off-state current -- the largest change in current achieved for a single-molecule circuit to date.

This flexible and rechargeable battery is 10 times more powerful than state of the art

A team of researchers has developed a flexible, rechargeable silver oxide-zinc battery with a five to 10 times greater areal energy density than state of the art. The battery also is easier to manufacture; while most flexible batteries need to be manufactured in sterile conditions, under vacuum, this one can be screen printed in normal lab conditions. The device can be used in flexible, stretchable electronics for wearables as well as soft robotics.

To accelerate or decelerate in the light-emitting process of zinc-oxide crystals

A recent study has measured the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of Zinc-Oxide (ZnO) crystals in both the light-emitting process and non-light-emitting process.

Ionic defect landscape in perovskite solar cells revealed

Researchers have uncovered the ionic defect landscape in metal halide perovskites. They were able to identify essential properties of the ions that make up these materials. The migration of the ions leads to the presence of defects in the material, which have a negative effect on the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells.

No strings attached: Maximizing wireless charging efficiency with multiple transmitters

Scientists have developed a control strategy that allows for transferring power wirelessly through multiple transmitter coils with maximum efficiency. Unlike conventional approaches in which only the transmitter closer to the receiver is active, this novel method dispatches the optimal amount of current to each transmitter, depending on the degree of coupling with the receiver. This technique will help surpass the hurdles of wired charging in electric vehicles and industrial robots.

Novel method to fine tune 'twistronics'

Researchers have revealed a breakthrough method that could lead to autonomous robotic control and therefore precise fine tuning of the 'twist' between atom-thin 2D materials layers stacked in a superlattice structure -- a pioneering device that could help transform technology and achieve superconductive electronics.

Cooling electronics efficiently with graphene-enhanced heat pipes

Researchers have found that graphene-based heat pipes can help solve the problems of cooling electronics and power systems used in avionics, data centres, and other power electronics.

Self-repairing gelatin-based film could be a smart move for electronics

Dropping a cell phone can sometimes cause superficial cracks to appear. But other times, the device can stop working altogether because fractures develop in the material that stores data. Now, researchers have made an environmentally friendly, gelatin-based film that can repair itself multiple times and still maintain the electronic signals needed to access a device's data. The material could be used someday in smart electronics and health-monitoring devices.

Ultrasensitive transistor for herbicide detection in water

Researchers have fabricated a tiny electronic sensor that can detect very low levels of a commonly used weed killer in drinking water.